The Wall Street Journal in a recent editorial pointed out fundamental problems with the REAL ID bill:

"Even if the Real ID Act had been in place prior to 9/11, it's unlikely that the license provisions would have
prevented the attacks. That's because all of the hijackers entered the U.S. legally, which means
they qualified for drivers' licenses. The Real ID Act wouldn't change that. Moreover, you don't need a driver's license to fly. Other forms of identification -- such as a passport -- are acceptable and also were available to the hijackers. Nothing in the Sensenbrenner bill would change that, either."

However, the proponents of the REAL ID bill (the anti-immigrationists) are probably not too concerned with national security, they just want to make life as difficult as possible for the undocumented workers who are essential to the American economy. The anti-immigrationists' view on immigration policy is to simply call for more and more enforcement. They turn a blind eye to the burning problem with immigration policy which is inadequate and minuscule avenues for legal immigration (both temporary and permanent). Ignorance of reality is ultimately a sure way to fail. All that the anti-immigrationists will achieve if REAL ID becomes law is driving the undocumented deeper underground and moving America closer to a Gestapo state with a national ID card.

We have confidence in the strength of our legislative process and believe that REAL ID will likely lead to a larger bill with both enforcement and generous benefits provisions. We look forward to that larger bill becoming law.

We welcome readers to share their opinion and ideas with us by writing to editor@ilw.com.